Water-proof device for cellars or basements



(No Model.) 2 sheetsf-.sheet 1.

L. RITTR. WATER PROOF'DEVICE PQR GELLARS 0R BASEMENTS. No. 891,882. Patented 088.A 8o, 188:8.

N, PETERS, Pmmumogmphr. wmingmn. D4 c.

(No Model.)

L. RITTER.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WATER PROOF DEVICE FOR GAELLARS 0R BASEMEN'TS.

Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

N. NEVERS. PlmwLilhngmphcr, wnsningwn. D. c.

Narren STATES Parham Ormes..

LOUIS RITTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Wares-encor DEVICE Foa cELLAas oa enseiviears.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,862, dated October 30, 1888.

Application filed October 27, 1887. Serial No. 253,547.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Louis RITTER, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Water-Proof Devices for Cellars or Basements, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which# Figure I is atop view showing the position of the main sleepers, the concrete or other filling flush therewith, the metal plates, iioorsleepers, matched lloor, and wainscot. Fig. ll is a vertical section taken on line II II, Fig. I, showing a transverse View of the same parts and the wood strip built into the basement-wall for the attachment of the Wainscot. Fig. III is a 'vertical section taken on line lll III, Fig. I, showing the metal plates and vtheir means of attachment to the sleepers, with the iioor and its sleepers surmounti ng the same. Fig. lV is a detail perspective of the sleepers, showing them half eut away at the intended points of intersection. Fig. V is a detail perspective of one ofthe lloorsleepers. Fig. Vl is a detail section showing'the means of attachment of the top of the wainseot and metal plate to the wall. Fig. VII is a vertical section showing the metallic plate extending between the footing-base and the foundation and passing outside,instead ofinside,the basementwall, with floor-sleepers, matched flooring, and wainscot surmouuting the metal plate in the basement. Fig. VIII is a like view to Fig. VII, with a cemented lioor in the place, ofthe matched floor and minus the Wooden wainscot. Fig. IX is a like view to Fig. VIII, with the exception that the metal plate follows up inside the cellar or basement wall, instead of the outside.

This invention relates to waterproof devices for basements or cellars; and the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference indicate like parts in all the views, l represents the basement or cellar wall of a building; 2, its footing-base beneath the foundation; 3, the surface of the ground outside; 4, the main sleepers that lie transversely and are halved into each other at their -points of intersection by the notches 5. These (Xo model.)

upper surfaces support the metallic Ilooringg plates 6. Extensions 7 ofsaid plates are turned up at the wall and form the siding or wainscot plate that follows up the basement or cellar Wall, either inside or out, and reaches above the height of the surface ground outside.

8 represents the ground-surface under-floor into which the main sills are sunk until their top surfaces are dush therewith, except when a layer of concrete or cement, 9, in accordance with my preferable plan, is filled in the squares formed by the intersecting sleepers, when said concrete, inthe place of the ground-surface, comes flush with the sleepers. (See Figs. I and II.)

The waterproofing metallic plates may be constructed of copper, zinc, galvanized iron, or other suitable and lasting metallic material. The said metallic plates are secured to the sills by nails l0, which pass through corresponding perforations 11 in the adjoining plates and into the sleepers, to which they secure the plates. The heads of the nails slightly depress the plates against which they are driven, giving them a slight surface hold of the sleepers, and thus re-enforcing the hold of the nails. The perforations 1l, through which the nails pass, the heads of the nails, and the edges of the metallic plates, are covered with solder, l2,so as to seal the perforations and joints and make them water-proof.

The vertical extension of the metallic plates may be turned upward at a right angle either inside the wall ascending to above the level of the surface ground outside (see Figs. I, II, and IV) or the plates may extend on a horizontal line between the footing-base 2 and the foundation or basement wall l, and ascend upward outside the wall to" above the surface-level. (See Figs. VII 'and VIII.) This latter adaptation of the device is well suited for use and is my preferred construction in both cellars and basements, in conjunction both with the concrete door, preferably constructed in cellars, and the matched board iloor and wainseot, preferably constructed in basements, when my waterprooiing devices are laid simultaneously with the construction of the building.

Although the application of my devices is so far well adapted for attachment to houses IOO that are already built that they secure a perfectly dry basement or cellar even on ground .in the vicinity of which there are no lower levels for outlets to drains, (a desideratum of vital importance to the health and comfort of the occupants) yet my preferable application of the device when the building has not already been constructed is to extend the horizontal metallic plates beyond the ground-sills between the footing-base and the foundation and turn then upward outside the foundation-wall, which they incase to above the surface of the ground, and their upper ends, 14, are then bent around inward and inserted in the wall, as shown in Figs. VII and VIII, to prevent the descent or seepage of dampness following down the outside of the wall and Ending entrance within the water-proof easing of its basement. The invention is thus utilized to securing dry foundation-walls, that both adds to theirstability; and what is, if possible, of still more importance, by thus preventing the entrance of moisture in said foundation-walls it cannot ascend oa the foundation to the surmounting walls ofthe building, carrying with it all its injurious influences on health, life, and property that need not be here enumerated.

When the building is already'erected, or if for any reason it is preferred not to extend the metallic plates through and up the outside of the foundation-walls of the building, the plates are turned up inside the walls at 15, and if in connection with a cellar are thus preferably made to take the place of wainscoting around said walls to and slightly above the level of the surface ground. The top edges of said wainscot plates are preferably turned or beaded at 16 around a wire to give a nished appearance to the work and to leave no sharp obtruding edges thereto. A small strip of timber, making a nail strip, 17, is built into the inside of the wall at a suitable height for the insertion of nails 18, and thus securing the upper edge of the wainscot-plates or other wainscot thereto.

When the water-proof devices are used in connection with cellars, the metallic iioorplates are preferably covered with a surfacefloor of concrete or cement, 19, to make a hard and enduring floor, as also to protect the metallic plates from the corrosive effects of the air. When said devices are used in connection with basements, where wooden doors and wainseots areL preferred instead of the concrete iioor 19, bed-sills 20 are laid along each side of the cellar on the horizontal metallic floor-plates, and where the basements are wide one or more intermediate bedsills may be provided; but, as the sleepers they support are also supported their whole length on the metallic floor-plates resting on the sleepers beneath, the two end bed-sills will generally be found sufficient.

The floor-sleepers 21 are jointed at their points of intersection with the bed-sills by being halved therewith at 22, and matched flooring-boards 23 are laid thereon. The vertical metallic plates in this form also extend upward, either inside or outside, lining or incasing the foundation-walls, as before described, in cases where no wooden wainscot is used. Horizontal nailestrips 24 are secured to the strips 17 that are built into the wall by nails 25, and similar strips, 26, are toe-nailed to the floor.

To the above-named strips 241 and 26 the upright matched wainscot-boards 27 are nailed 5 also the skirting-boards 28 and top rails, 29, may be nailed to said strips and to the wainscot-board, to which they are a finish.

This invention is intended for use where it is deemed ofimportance to provide dry cellars, basements,and foundation-walls; and it is also especially adapted for use in localities where, in consequence ofthe lay of the land, there is no outlet-drainage from the basement; so that without such devices it is impossible to provide cellars to the houses or to construct houses themselves with dry foundations anda due regard for hygiene.

I claim as my invention 1. In a water-proof device for basements and cellars, the combination of the metallic plates 6, the intersecting sleepers 4, on which they rest, the cemented interspaees between the sleepers, also the extension metallic watertight wainscot or lining arranged to provide a Water-proof device for cellars and basement walls, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a water-proof device for basements and cellars, the combination of the main sleepers 4,transversely intersect-ing eaeli other, the cemented interspaees between sleepers, the metallic waterproofing'plates 6, 7, and 15, provided with water-tight sealed joints 12, and the concrete surface-tloor 19, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a water-proofdevicc for basements and cellars, the combination of the main sleepers, the cemented interspaees between said sleepers, the metallic waterproofing iioor,wainscot, and liningfplates provided with water-tight sealed joints,arranged to provide waterproof devices for basements and cellars, and the bedsills 20, tloor-sleepers21, matched board dooring 23, and wainseotboards 27, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In awater-proofdevice for basements and cellars, the combination of the main sleepers, the cemented interspaees between sleepers,the metallic waterproofing floor, wainscot, and lining plates, provided with water-tight sealed joints, the said plates being arranged to inclose in a water-tight compartment the bascment, the cellar, and the foundation-walls, to prevent the ingress of moisture therein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS RITTER.

,In presence of- BENJN. A. KNIGHT, EDW. S. KNIGHT.

IIO 

